The Tampa Bay Lightning are one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals after their overtime win on Sunday. The Lightning now have a 3-2 lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jason Garrison shot the game-winning goal 53 seconds into overtime. Garrison shot the puck and it hit teammate Tyler Johnson’s back then went into the net.
Nikita Kucherov scored two goals, including the game-tying goal with 3:16 left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said the team was very confident going into overtime after Kucherov tied the game. Kucherov leads the NHL with 11 playoff goals.
The Penguins had a 2-0 and 3-2 leads. Brian Dumoulin, Chris Kunitz, and Patric Hornqvist each scored a goal. Marc-Andre Fleury’s 21 saves weren’t enough to protect those leads.
One more. #PITvsTBL pic.twitter.com/ZXrsYa0Ded
— #GoBolts (@TBLightning) May 23, 2016
The Bolts overcoming two deficits in Game 5 show their resilience, but it also shows how the Penguins will not go away easily. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said the Lightning will get the Pittsburgh Penguins’ best.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will now have the chance to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals in front of their fans in the Amalie Arena. Hedman and the Lightning look forward to seizing the opportunity.
The opportunity for the Bolts will take place Tuesday night in Tampa with coverage starting on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 FM at 7:30 p.m. You can also watch the game on NBCSN with the puck drop around 8 p.m.